Grade 10 Physical Sciences · Paper 1 (Physics)

Mechanics Grade 10

Real past paper questions and answers from 2022 to 2025, with each memo split into the ticks examiners give. Try one, mark yourself, and see exactly which skill cost you marks.

past paper questions
87 past paper questions
skills
15 skills
videos
15 videos

Try a real exam question

No sign-up. Takes 3 minutes.

Question 1.1 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks

Various options are provided as answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10) in your ANSWER BOOK, for example, 1.11 D.
1.1 Vector and vector are acting on the same point . The angle between the two vectors is ...(2)
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the official memo, one tick at a time.

What's in Mechanics Grade 10

Each skill is one thing a memo gives a tick for. Tap a skill for its own questions, notes and videos.

Motion in One Dimension55 past paper questions

More Mechanics Grade 10 questions and answers

Try each one on paper before you open the memo.

  1. 1. Question 5.3.2 · May/June 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 3 marks

    Water is drawn from a water source m below the ground by an electric pump. The water is lifted vertically upwards at a constant speed, as shown in the simplified diagram below.

    The pump lifts the water upwards at a rate of kg·s. Ignore ALL frictional and capillarity effects.Diagram for this question
    5.3 The pump lifts kg of water from the source to the ground at a constant speed. Calculate the:
    5.3.2 Constant speed at which the water is lifted(3)
    Show the memo (3 ticks)
    1. ✓
      Time to lift the water s

      1 mark · Calculate distance, speed and velocity

    2. ✓
      Substitution

      1 mark · Calculate distance, speed and velocity

    3. ✓
      Answer m·s ( m·s)

      1 mark · Calculate distance, speed and velocity

  2. 2. Question 4.1 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks

    A man applies a force of N on a trolley full of crates on a horizontal plane. The trolley experiences a friction force of N in the opposite direction.
    4.1 Define the term resultant vector.(2)
    Show the memo (1 tick)
    1. ✓
      Definition of resultant vectorA single vector that produces the same effect as is produced by a number of vectors collectively.

      2 marks · Define vector and motion terms

  3. 3. Question 1.4 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks

    Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
    1.4 In the diagram below, a pendulum bob of mass is released from point A and swings past points B, C and D. Ignore all effects of air resistance.

    In which of the following positions will the value of the gravitational potential energy of the pendulum bob be the smallest?(2)Diagram for question 1.4
    1. A A
    2. B B
    3. C C
    4. D D
    Show the memo (1 tick)
    1. ✓
      Choose the correct option. The mass and are the same at every point, so is smallest where the height is smallest. C is the lowest point of the swing (the bob hangs straight down).

      Answer: C

      2 marks · Calculate kinetic and potential energy

  4. 4. Question 7.2 · November 2023 · Paper 2 · Provincial · 2 marks

    In the reaction below, magnesium ribbon reacts with excess hydrochloric acid according to the following balanced chemical equation. When the reaction has stopped, the plunger in the syringe remained in the position as shown in the diagram below.

    Diagram for this question
    7.2 Write down the volume of gas collected in the syringe.(2)
    Show the memo (1 tick)
    1. ✓
      Volume read from the syringe cm or dm

      2 marks · Describe and evaluate an experiment

  5. 5. Question 2.1 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks

    2.1 Define the term vector.(2)
    Show the memo (1 tick)
    1. ✓
      Definition of a vectorPhysical quantity with both magnitude and direction.

      2 marks · Define vector and motion terms

Mechanics Grade 10 videos

Short lessons from South African teachers first. Videos load only when you tap play, to save your data.

Vectors and Scalars PhysicsMiss Martins Maths and Science
Resultant vector | Vector addition: Grade 10 PhysicsMiss Martins Maths and Science
Velocity and speed: Motion in One DimensionMiss Martins Maths and Science
Velocity Time Graph Grade 10 ScienceKevinmathscience
Exam Velocity Time Graph Grade 10Kevinmathscience
Motion Graphs: Transforming Position to Velocity to Acceleration vs TimeStep by Step Science

Free on Android

Know exactly which skill is costing you marks.

Mark past papers tick by tick in the NavyBlue app. It remembers every mark you lose, shows you the skills to fix first, and picks your next questions.

Get NavyBlue free on Google Play
The NavyBlue app showing a learner's weak skills